With reports about "Bird-Flu" in the news again, I thought I would share information with you since you may be curious or at some time someone will ask you how it impacts you or your backyard flock.
First, your back yard chickens don't have a lot of interaction with other chickens do they? I doubt there are many 'play-dates' taking place between your chickens and other birds in town. There are those who raise chickens as show birds and they would be ones that get exposed to other poultry that are not under their care. The rest of us have chickens that spend time in their coop and maybe free ranging around our back yard and that is about the extent. So, if you think about exposure to birds infected with Avian Influenza, it probably doesn't happen much...but now think about what exposure YOU have with other poultry. If you visit friends flocks or poultry shows, you may be putting your own flock at risk. As with human infections, prevention is key.
Below is an article from the North Carolina State University Extension's website with some helpful information. This article can be found directly at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/tech_manuals/preventing_avian_influenza_backyard.pdf.
Another article by Utah State University which discusses various diseases which may impact your backyard flock can be found at http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/AG_Poultry_2012-04pr.pdf
Our family had a good laugh over your expression, "play dates with other neighborhood birds", because we have pigeons and doves both visiting, and imitating, our chickens. Our lovely girls are often seen in dinosaur mode, chasing these smaller 'chicken wanna-be' birds away, screeching like raptors from Jurassic Park. The doves are the most patient, and most determined to be accepted into the flock.They even hunch up their backs and walk like chickens to try and sneak into the ranks, in an effort to get in on the food distribution. The chickens tolerate them only until eye contact is made, then the gig is up, screeching begins, and mobbing commences. I suppose bird-flu is a possibility with this being the case, but there are so many illnesses, plagues, and whatnot out there... a body is more likely to be zapped by any other thing first. Live, Laugh, and Love your flock is our motto. Brigham City is absolutely beautiful, we love visiting the parks and historical markers there. We also enjoy your posts very much. :)
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